Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has made a bold claim that Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is already performing at a higher level than what Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi displayed at the same age.
Speaking on his podcast, Ferdinand responded definitively when asked if Yamal is better than Ronaldo was at 17: "Yes! Lamine Yamal is better than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at 17 years old. His potential or ceiling might be better. They've gone and produced it. The body of work at 17 years old, no one's done it."
The former England defender added, "Pele may, but I didn't see Pele. But this guy is doing stuff."
Rising Star's Remarkable Achievements
Yamal, a product of Barcelona's famed youth academy, shot to international prominence following his stellar performances with Spain at Euro 2024. The teenage prodigy has since continued his meteoric rise, becoming a key player in Barcelona's domestic treble triumph in the 2024-25 season.
Currently in contention for this year's Ballon d'Or award, Yamal has already broken numerous records despite his tender age, drawing inevitable comparisons to football icons Messi and Ronaldo, who are widely regarded as two of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
While both Messi and Ronaldo are in the twilight of their illustrious careers, they continue to demonstrate remarkable longevity at the highest level of the game, setting a formidable benchmark for the young Spaniard to aspire to over the coming years.
Ferdinand's comments have sparked debate among football enthusiasts about whether Yamal can maintain his trajectory and eventually reach or even surpass the extraordinary heights achieved by Messi and Ronaldo throughout their careers.
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